Bartolo kept us in contention – Paul Zammit

Birkirkara suffered another double blow on Friday night when two key midfielders were injured in the opening 22 minutes of their clash with Valletta and had to be stretchered off.

Shaun Bajada and Rowen Muscat were both injured within a few minutes of each other when the score was still goalless, both suffering from ankle sprains.

According to coach Paul Zammit, below, their injuries were still being assessed by yesterday and it was not exactly known how long they will have to remain out of action. Zammit said: “At present it seems almost certain that they will be out for at least four weeks, but it could be six as well, depending on the extent of the injury, which still has to be ascertained, though we are assured there are no fractures.”

The Stripes coach said he was very happy that his side had emerged with a point from this match. “We were dominated in the first half as Valletta were a better team. But what could one expect? We lost two key midfielders by the 22nd minute and I had to change my strategy for the whole game. We were obviously shaken and we owe a lot to goalkeeper Bartolo who kept us in contention with his excellent handling and saves,” he added.

Zammit added that it was Bartolo’s first half saves and his penalty save midway through the second half that enabled the side to rally in the later stages of the game. “That penalty save was a big boost for us. Had that been a third goal for Valletta, it would have been the end for us. But I think it was the cherry on the cake for our goalie in such an excellent performance. I must emphasise that Bartolo is not our Number 2 goalkeeper. He is one of two top goalkeepers with us at present. And he has been in inspiring form since replacing Brazilian goalie Lovizon after the latter’s long-term injury in the opening minutes of the first league match against Sliema. He has proved me right all the way so far,” he said.

The coach also said that there is healthy competition, not just in the goalkeeping position – the Stripes signed experienced Scottish goalie Michael Fraser last Monday – but also in all other departments. “During the first half we lost two key players in Bajada and Muscat, but their replacements showed that they can play in the first string any time,” he added.

Zammit said Birkirkara committed a number of mistakes in the first half which gave the initiative to Valletta. He said: “We have to correct several things after Friday’s match, especially in defence. We gave our opponents the initiative and we left too many gaps. In the second half, we reacted and we were slightly better than Valletta, as we had to get out in search of the equaliser, even if we knew that Valletta could be very dangerous in their counter-breaks.”

We lost two precious points – Jesmond Zerafa

Valletta coach Jesmond Zerafa, right, was one big disappointed man at the end of Friday’s match.

His side could only emerge from Ta’ Qali with one point against a fighting Birkirkara side which was, however, dominated in the first half.

Zerafa said: “I believe we lost two points. We should have closed the match in that first half. So far I have never seen my team playing so well and creating so many chances, especially against Birkirkara. It is true that we missed a lot, but my compliments also go to Manwel Bartolo for his saves that kept his side in contention.

“He also saved the penalty by Denni Rocha dos Santos. After that, not only Denni was mentally out of the match, but also the other boys. And Birkirkara came back strongly to garner a point from what had seemed to be a lost match for them.”

Zerafa said he had expected the team to win after that first half performance. “Yet I had to replace the injured Roderick Briffa and even Jamie Pace was not at his 100 per cent. It was there that we lost the initiative. And it was after the penalty miss that my team appeared distraught.

“Although a point against Birkirkara is good, however, I feel that it was not enough in the circumstances. When one loses so many chances, that is what one expects, especially in the game of football.”

Zerafa denied that the team was tired in the second half. “What happened was that the boys lost their contentration after Denni’s penalty miss. From then on, it was all Birkirkara – we gave them the chance to get back in the match,” he said.